Illinois | Northeastern Illinois
Hickory CreekPilcher Park to S. Joliet Street
A documented approximately 4.2-mile Class II urban whitewater reach from the public Pilcher Park area to the S. Joliet Street bridge, with a direct Hickory Creek gauge and dam, bridge, concrete-channel, and strainer hazards.
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Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.
Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
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Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Short urban whitewater run with conservative flow check and mandatory feature scouting.
Access map
Put-in
Pilcher Park below-dam public accessVerify exact below-dam carry-in and S. Joliet Street carry-out points on arrival.
Take-out
S. Joliet Street bridge take-outVerify exact below-dam carry-in and S. Joliet Street carry-out points on arrival.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Verify exact below-dam carry-in and S. Joliet Street carry-out points on arrival.
Watch for
- Pilcher Park dam
- bridges
- strainers
- concrete walls
- rapid rise
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast
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USGS measurements
More about this gauge
These measurements come from the gauge station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Hickory Creek at Joliet, IL. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Gauge detail
Water-level history and forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Hourly forecast
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Short-route forecast
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Route gallery
Photos
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Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today’s call.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Hickory Creek at Joliet, IL |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 300 cfs |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater Hickory Creek trip reports |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Named route corridorPilcher Park to S. Joliet Street; approximately 3.75 miles
American Whitewater documents the reach, Class II character, length, gauge, and hazard sequence; its title uses Corcoran Park but the trip narrative identifies Pilcher Park as the usual put-in.
- Direct live gauge and thresholdUSGS 05539000; about 300 cfs minimum planning reference
Community reports describe 300 cfs as a minimum; not a safety guarantee.
- Public accessPilcher Park, Joliet
Illinois DNR and Joliet Park District identify public park water access.
- Endpoint coordinatesPilcher Park 41.5355868,-88.0136675; S. Joliet Street 41.5076556,-88.0838861
Verify exact carry-in/carry-out points.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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Quick answers
Hickory Creek paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Pilcher Park to S. Joliet Street route on the Hickory Creek?
Paddle Today watches Hickory Creek at Joliet, IL and uses 300 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does the Pilcher Park to S. Joliet Street route on the Hickory Creek start and end?
This route starts at Pilcher Park below-dam public access and ends at S. Joliet Street bridge take-out, Approximately 4.2 river miles on the water.
Is the Pilcher Park to S. Joliet Street route on the Hickory Creek suitable for beginners?
This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.
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